Colne firm makes ‘best pork pies’

When it comes to pies, a Colne butchers has once again proved it has what it takes.

Whiteside’s Butchers have again passed the taste test confirming the business as a crust above the rest.

And judges confirmed they had the best pork pie from Lancashire in the sixth annual Great Northern Pork Pie Competition, which ran alongside the 2014 Christmas primestock shows at Skipton Auction Mart.

The Keighley Road shop, which also achieved the same feat at an earlier contest, was again the best Red Rose entry with its traditional pork pie, chosen by the competition judges - pork pie aficionados one and all, among them Janet Green, of Farmhouse Fare in Skipton, supreme champions the previous four years, who was born and bred in Colne.

“Our award-winning pork pies are available over the counter on a daily basis. We don’t make them any different just because it’s a special event.”

The Great Northern Pork Pie Competition is an annual Roses battle open to Yorkshire and Lancashire butchers, farm shops and bakers who make their own pies on their own premises. Supreme champion was Ingfield Farm Shop in Southowram, near Halifax, with its first prize speciality pie – a pork, cheese and chutney creation.

As in previous years, there was again a keynote charity element to the action-packed day, with pork pies, fruit cakes, Scotch eggs, sausage rolls and fodder – all donated by willing participants, plus generous donations by many others - auctioned off in the main ring to a host of enthusiastic bidders.

Around £3,500, a new event record, was raised for the two main annual beneficiaries, Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope and Brooklands School in Skipton.